Sura 34: Sheba
(Saba’)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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الحمد لله الذي له ما في السماوات وما في الارض وله الحمد في الاخرة وهو الحكيم الخبير

Praise be to GOD—to whom belongs everything in the heavens and the earth; all praise is also due to Him in the Hereafter. He is the Most Wise, the Cognizant.

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يعلم ما يلج في الارض وما يخرج منها وما ينزل من السماء وما يعرج فيها وهو الرحيم الغفور

He knows everything that goes into the earth, and everything that comes out of it, and everything that comes down from the sky, and everything that climbs into it. He is the Most Merciful, the Forgiving.

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وقال الذين كفروا لا تاتينا الساعة قل بلى وربي لتاتينكم عالم الغيب لا يعزب عنه مثقال ذرة في السماوات ولا في الارض ولا اصغر من ذلك ولا اكبر الا في كتاب مبين

Those who disbelieve have said, “The Hour will never come to pass!” Say, “Absolutely—by my Lord—it will most certainly come to you. He is the Knower of the future. Not even the equivalent of an atom’s weight is hidden from Him, be it in the heavens or the earth. Not even smaller than that, or larger (is hidden). All are in a profound record.”

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ليجزي الذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات اولئك لهم مغفرة ورزق كريم

Most certainly, He will reward those who believe and lead a righteous life. These have deserved forgiveness and a generous provision.

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والذين سعوا في اياتنا معاجزين اولئك لهم عذاب من رجز اليم

As for those who constantly challenge our revelations, they have incurred a retribution of painful humiliation.

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ويرى الذين اوتوا العلم الذي انزل اليك من ربك هو الحق ويهدي الى صراط العزيز الحميد

It is evident to those who are blessed with knowledge that this revelation from your Lord to you is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Almighty, the Most Praiseworthy.

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وقال الذين كفروا هل ندلكم على رجل ينبئكم اذا مزقتم كل ممزق انكم لفي خلق جديد

Those who disbelieve have said, “Let us show you a man who tells you that after you are torn apart you will be created anew.

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افترى على الله كذبا ام به جنة بل الذين لا يؤمنون بالاخرة في العذاب والضلال البعيد

“Either he fabricated lies about GOD, or he is crazy.” Indeed, those who disbelieve in the Hereafter have incurred the worst retribution; they have gone far astray.

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افلم يروا الى ما بين ايديهم وما خلفهم من السماء والارض ان نشا نخسف بهم الارض او نسقط عليهم كسفا من السماء ان في ذلك لاية لكل عبد منيب

Have they not seen all the things in front of them and behind them, in the heaven and the earth? If we willed, we could have caused the earth to swallow them, or caused masses to fall on them from the sky. This should be a sufficient proof for every obedient servant.

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David and Solomon

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ولقد اتينا داوود منا فضلا يا جبال اوبي معه والطير والنا له الحديد

We endowed David with blessings from us: “O mountains, submit with him, and you too, O birds.” We softened the iron for him.

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ان اعمل سابغات وقدر في السرد واعملوا صالحا اني بما تعملون بصير

“You may make shields that fit perfectly, and work righteousness. Whatever you do, I am Seer thereof.”

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The First Oil Field

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ولسليمان الريح غدوها شهر ورواحها شهر واسلنا له عين القطر ومن الجن من يعمل بين يديه باذن ربه ومن يزغ منهم عن امرنا نذقه من عذاب السعير

To Solomon we committed the wind at his disposal, traveling one month coming and one month going. And we caused a spring of oil to gush out for him. Also, the jinns worked for him, by his Lord’s leave. Any one of them who disregarded our commands, we subjected him to a severe retribution.

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يعملون له ما يشاء من محاريب وتماثيل وجفان كالجواب وقدور راسيات اعملوا ال داوود شكرا وقليل من عبادي الشكور

They made for him anything he wanted—niches, statues, deep pools, and heavy cooking pots. O family of David, work (righteousness) to show your appreciation. Only a few of My servants are appreciative.

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Jinns’ Knowledge is Limited

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فلما قضينا عليه الموت ما دلهم على موته الا دابة الارض تاكل منساته فلما خر تبينت الجن ان لو كانوا يعلمون الغيب ما لبثوا في العذاب المهين

When the appointed time for his death came, they had no clue that he had died. It was not until one of the animals tried to eat his staff, and he fell down, that the jinns realized that he was dead. They thus realized that if they really knew the unseen, they would have stopped working so hard as soon as he died.

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لقد كان لسبا في مسكنهم اية جنتان عن يمين وشمال كلوا من رزق ربكم واشكروا له بلدة طيبة ورب غفور

Sheba’s homeland used to be a marvel, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from your Lord’s provisions, and be appreciative of Him—good land, and a forgiving Lord.

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فاعرضوا فارسلنا عليهم سيل العرم وبدلناهم بجنتيهم جنتين ذواتي اكل خمط واثل وشيء من سدر قليل

They turned away and, consequently, we poured upon them a disastrous flood, and we substituted their two gardens into two gardens of bad tasting fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest.

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ذلك جزيناهم بما كفروا وهل نجازي الا الكفور

We thus requited them for their disbelief. Do we not requite only the disbelievers?

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وجعلنا بينهم وبين القرى التي باركنا فيها قرى ظاهرة وقدرنا فيها السير سيروا فيها ليالي واياما امنين

We placed between them and the communities that we blessed other oases, and we secured the journey between them: “Travel therein days and nights in complete security.”

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فقالوا ربنا باعد بين اسفارنا وظلموا انفسهم فجعلناهم احاديث ومزقناهم كل ممزق ان في ذلك لايات لكل صبار شكور

But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: “Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations).” They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative.

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Satan Claims the Majority

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ولقد صدق عليهم ابليس ظنه فاتبعوه الا فريقا من المؤمنين

Satan found them readily fulfilling his expectations. They followed him, except a few believers.

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The Objective: <br>Do We Believe <br>in the Hereafter?*

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وما كان له عليهم من سلطان الا لنعلم من يؤمن بالاخرة ممن هو منها في شك وربك على كل شيء حفيظ

He never had any power over them. But we thus distinguish those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are doubtful about it.* Your Lord is in full control of all things.

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قل ادعوا الذين زعمتم من دون الله لا يملكون مثقال ذرة في السماوات ولا في الارض وما لهم فيهما من شرك وما له منهم من ظهير

Say, “Implore the idols you have set up beside GOD. They do not possess as much as a single atom in the heavens, or the earth. They possess no partnership therein, nor does He permit them to be His assistants.”

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No Intercession

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ولا تنفع الشفاعة عنده الا لمن اذن له حتى اذا فزع عن قلوبهم قالوا ماذا قال ربكم قالوا الحق وهو العلي الكبير

Intercession with Him will be in vain, unless it coincides with His will. When their minds are finally settled down, and they ask, “What did your Lord say,” they will say, “The truth.” He is the Most High, the Most Great.

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قل من يرزقكم من السماوات والارض قل الله وانا او اياكم لعلى هدى او في ضلال مبين

Say, “Who provides for you, from the heavens and the earth?” Say, “GOD,” and “Either we or you are guided, or have gone far astray.”

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قل لا تسالون عما اجرمنا ولا نسال عما تعملون

Say, “You are not responsible for our crimes, nor are we responsible for what you do.”

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قل يجمع بيننا ربنا ثم يفتح بيننا بالحق وهو الفتاح العليم

Say, “Our Lord will gather us all together before Him, then He will judge between us equitably. He is the Judge, the Omniscient.”

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قل اروني الذين الحقتم به شركاء كلا بل هو الله العزيز الحكيم

Say, “Show me the idols you have set up as partners with Him!” Say, “No; He is the one GOD, the Almighty, Most Wise.”

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God’s Messenger of the Covenant

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وما ارسلناك الا كافة للناس بشيرا ونذيرا ولكن اكثر الناس لا يعلمون

We have sent you (O Rashad)* to all the people, a bearer of good news, as well as a warner, but most people do not know.

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ويقولون متى هذا الوعد ان كنتم صادقين

They challenge, “When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?”

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قل لكم ميعاد يوم لا تستاخرون عنه ساعة ولا تستقدمون

Say, “You have a specific time, on a specific day, that you cannot delay by one hour, nor advance.”

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وقال الذين كفروا لن نؤمن بهذا القران ولا بالذي بين يديه ولو ترى اذ الظالمون موقوفون عند ربهم يرجع بعضهم الى بعض القول يقول الذين استضعفوا للذين استكبروا لولا انتم لكنا مؤمنين

Those who disbelieve have said, “We will not believe in this Quran, nor in the previous scriptures.” If you could only envision these transgressors when they stand before their Lord! They will argue with one another back and forth. The followers will tell their leaders, “If it were not for you, we would have been believers.”

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On the Day of Resurrection

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قال الذين استكبروا للذين استضعفوا انحن صددناكم عن الهدى بعد اذ جاءكم بل كنتم مجرمين

The leaders will say to those who followed them, “Are we the ones who diverted you from the guidance after it came to you? No; it is you who were wicked.”

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وقال الذين استضعفوا للذين استكبروا بل مكر الليل والنهار اذ تامروننا ان نكفر بالله ونجعل له اندادا واسروا الندامة لما راوا العذاب وجعلنا الاغلال في اعناق الذين كفروا هل يجزون الا ما كانوا يعملون

The followers will say to their leaders, “It was you who schemed night and day, then commanded us to be unappreciative of GOD, and to set up idols to rank with Him.” They will be ridden with remorse, when they see the retribution, for we will place shackles around the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they not justly requited for what they did?

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Every Time!

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وما ارسلنا في قرية من نذير الا قال مترفوها انا بما ارسلتم به كافرون

Every time we sent a warner to a community, the leaders of that community said, “We reject the message you are sent with.”

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وقالوا نحن اكثر اموالا واولادا وما نحن بمعذبين

They also said, “We are more powerful, with more money and children, and we will not be punished.”

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قل ان ربي يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء ويقدر ولكن اكثر الناس لا يعلمون

Say, “My Lord is the One who controls all provisions; He grants the provisions to whomever He wills, or reduces them, but most people do not know.”

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وما اموالكم ولا اولادكم بالتي تقربكم عندنا زلفى الا من امن وعمل صالحا فاولئك لهم جزاء الضعف بما عملوا وهم في الغرفات امنون

It is not your money or your children that bring you closer to us. Only those who believe and lead a righteous life will receive the reward for their works, multiplied manifold. In the abode of Paradise they will live in perfect peace.

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والذين يسعون في اياتنا معاجزين اولئك في العذاب محضرون

As for those who consistently challenge our revelations, they will abide in retribution.

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قل ان ربي يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء من عباده ويقدر له وما انفقتم من شيء فهو يخلفه وهو خير الرازقين

Say, “My Lord is the One who controls all provisions; He increases the provisions for whomever He chooses from among His servants, or reduces them. Anything you spend (in the cause of God), He will reward you for it; He is the Best Provider.”

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ويوم يحشرهم جميعا ثم يقول للملائكة اهؤلاء اياكم كانوا يعبدون

On the day when He summons them all, He will say to the angels, “Did these people worship you?”

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قالوا سبحانك انت ولينا من دونهم بل كانوا يعبدون الجن اكثرهم بهم مؤمنون

They will answer, “Be You glorified. You are our Lord and Master, not them. Instead, they were worshiping the jinns; most of them were believers therein.”

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فاليوم لا يملك بعضكم لبعض نفعا ولا ضرا ونقول للذين ظلموا ذوقوا عذاب النار التي كنتم بها تكذبون

On that day, you possess no power to help or harm one another, and we will say to the transgressors, “Taste the retribution of the Hell that you used to deny.”

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Mathematical Miracle of the Quran*

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واذا تتلى عليهم اياتنا بينات قالوا ما هذا الا رجل يريد ان يصدكم عما كان يعبد اباؤكم وقالوا ما هذا الا افك مفترى وقال الذين كفروا للحق لما جاءهم ان هذا الا سحر مبين

When our proofs were recited to them, perfectly clear, they said, “This is simply a man who wants to divert you from the way your parents are worshiping.” They also said, “These are fabricated lies.” Those who disbelieved also said about the truth that came to them, “This is obviously magic.”

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وما اتيناهم من كتب يدرسونها وما ارسلنا اليهم قبلك من نذير

We did not give them any other books to study, nor did we send to them before you another warner.

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وكذب الذين من قبلهم وما بلغوا معشار ما اتيناهم فكذبوا رسلي فكيف كان نكير

Those before them disbelieved, and even though they did not see onetenth* of (the miracle) we have given to this generation, when they disbelieved My messengers, how severe was My retribution!

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God’s Messenger of the Covenant*

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قل انما اعظكم بواحدة ان تقوموا لله مثنى وفرادى ثم تتفكروا ما بصاحبكم من جنة ان هو الا نذير لكم بين يدي عذاب شديد

Say, “I ask you to do one thing: Devote yourselves to GOD, in pairs or as individuals, then reflect. Your friend (Rashad) is not crazy. He is a manifest warner to you, just before the advent of a terrible retribution.”

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قل ما سالتكم من اجر فهو لكم ان اجري الا على الله وهو على كل شيء شهيد

Say, “I do not ask you for any wage; you can keep it. My wage comes only from GOD. He witnesses all things.”

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قل ان ربي يقذف بالحق علام الغيوب

Say, “My Lord causes the truth to prevail. He is the Knower of all secrets.”

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قل جاء الحق وما يبدئ الباطل وما يعيد

Say, “The truth has come; while falsehood can neither initiate anything, nor repeat it.”

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قل ان ضللت فانما اضل على نفسي وان اهتديت فبما يوحي الي ربي انه سميع قريب

Say, “If I go astray, I go astray because of my own shortcomings. And if I am guided, it is because of my Lord’s inspiration. He is Hearer, Near.”

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ولو ترى اذ فزعوا فلا فوت واخذوا من مكان قريب

If you could only see them when the great terror strikes them; they cannot escape then, and they will be taken away forcibly.

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وقالوا امنا به وانى لهم التناوش من مكان بعيد

They will then say, “We now believe in it,” but it will be far too late.

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وقد كفروا به من قبل ويقذفون بالغيب من مكان بعيد

They have rejected it in the past; they have decided instead to uphold conjecture and guesswork.*

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وحيل بينهم وبين ما يشتهون كما فعل باشياعهم من قبل انهم كانوا في شك مريب

Consequently, they were deprived of everything they longed for. This is the same fate as their counterparts in the previous generations. They harbored too many doubts.

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